Chrysler fixing 230,000 Jeep SUVs in Canada

Chrysler Group LLC has agreed to extend its fix of older Jeep SUVs, to mitigate fire risks, to its customers around the world.

The Auburn Hills automaker said it will install trailer assembly hitches on up to 167,318 1992-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-07 Jeep Libertys in Canada. A related customer service campaign in Canada is being extended to 62,760 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees SUVs, according to documents posted on Transport Canada, the Canadian government auto safety arm.

Last month, under government pressure, Chrysler agreed to recall 1.56 million Jeeps in the U.S. to install trailer assembly hitches, even though it said it does not believe they will protect drivers in high impact rear collisions.

American safety regulators say the SUVs are prone to fire risks caused by gas tanks that can rupture and catch fire in rear-end collisions. The U.S. government blames such collisions for the deaths of at least 51 people driving Jeep SUVs.

In the U.S., Chrysler agreed to recall the 1.56 million 1992-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-07 Jeep Libertys. Chrysler said the fix for those vehicles is a trailer hitch assembly that will protect the gas tank, which is between the rear axle and bumper, in rear-end crashes. Dealers will install the hitches. Jeeps that already have factory-installed or Mopar hitches won't need to get a new ones, but those without a hitch or with non-factory installed hitches will get new ones.

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In addition, Chrysler will conduct a customer service campaign for 1.2 million 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees. Chrysler will replace non-factory-installed trailer hitches in order to make sure that sharp edges from aftermarket hitches don't have the potential to puncture gas tanks. It will not, however, install hitches for those vehicles that don't already have hitches.

In Canada, Chrysler is treating both actions as customer service campaigns..

Chrysler says similar remedies are being offered in all markets where Chrysler sold the SUVs, but the automaker doesn't have specific figures on how many total vehicles are being recalled or covered by customer service campaigns around the world.

On Monday, a victim of a Jeep SUV fire and auto safety advocates met with senior officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, urging them to conduct crash tests of the remedy. NHTSA says its investigation is still open, but hasn't committed to conducting crash tests.

NHTSA had sought the recall of 2.7 million Jeeps in a letter to Chrysler on June 4. It didn't seek a recall of 2.4 million 1993-2001 Jeep Cherokees that had been under investigation for fire risks.